Mountain Biking at Mount Snow: The Perfect Adventure for Teens in Vermont
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As a parent, one of my goals has always been to encourage my kids to explore and love the outdoors. This was easy when they were younger, but the teenage years tossed a whole new set of challenges our way.
A full school schedule, jobs, and extracurricular activities compete for their precious time. They seem to be happiest on their phones, and the allure of camping, hiking, and exploring the woods with their parents has definitely worn off.
So, how do you get outside with teenagers when exploring Vermont?
With a healthy dose of risk and adventure. One of our favorite places to take a few risks is the Mountain Bike Park at Mount Snow in West Dover, Vermont.
Teenagers are programmed to take risks, at least that’s what scientists at University College London concluded in a 2010 study. Providing teens with a positive outlet for risky behavior promotes healthy neurological development and growth and helps prevent more dangerous, sometimes illegal, risk-taking behavior.
While I personally have no need for an adrenaline rush to get me outside, it seems like the young adults in our household are always game for such shenanigans. One of our favorite family adventures is downhill mountain biking at Mount Snow here in Southern Vermont.
A disclaimer here: During our most recent visit, I spent the day hiking Mount Snow while the guys rode the trails. Hiking here is almost as much fun as Mount Snow Mountain Biking!
Mount Snow Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is a long-standing tradition at Mount Snow, and adventurers have been tearing up the trails here for more than 30 years.
Beginners and experts alike can take to the mountain, and we often see very young kids getting in on the action.
The bike park is open Friday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, with ticket windows opening at 9:30 am and the last bike haul up at 5:00 pm. Opening day in 2026 is June 20th. There are also free Crosstown Trails available for those who want to ride without a lift ticket.
One thing to note before you go: dogs are not allowed on the bike trails. It’s a bummer if you were planning to bring your pup, but it’s a firm policy for the safety of both guests and dogs.
Although my guys have their own mountain bikes at home, we often choose to rent bikes better suited to the rugged downhill terrain.
Mount Snow Sports at the Main Base Lodge rents a full fleet of downhill, cross-country, and casual bikes for all ages and ability levels. They’re open Thursday through Sunday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. You can also rent helmets and protective gear there; full-face helmets are recommended, along with knee, elbow, and shin pads.
E-bikes are not permitted on the Canyon Express lift per Vermont state and USFS regulations, though e-bike riders are welcome on the Crosstown Trails.
After donning an array of serious protective padding and a helmet that made me a little nervous, the guys headed over to the Canyon Express for their first run.
They were advised to start on the Gateway Trail, one of the longest introductory downhill trails in the East — a relatively gentle track where the guys practiced their downhill stances, braking, and turning before racing back to the lift for another run. It was obvious that my skiers were beyond thrilled to be back on the mountain.
My youngest, Gabe, was perfectly happy riding Gateway over and over, gaining speed and confidence with each descent.
Eric and Rowan quickly graduated to more difficult trails, and each time I saw them, they were full of stories about jumps, berms, and bridges.
Their favorite Mount Snow mountain bike trails of the day were Evolver and Bullwhip. Evolver is an intermediate trail through the woods, with lots of cool turns and banks.
They loved the smooth ride and the variety of features. Bullwhip is a more difficult trail, with good opportunities for catching speed and air.
Each time I spotted those boys, whether on the lift, on the trails, or chilling with a cold drink, their smiles were bigger and their faces dirtier.
At 5 pm, they took the last lift up for one final ride, and they were all grins amidst the dust as they coasted back to Mount Snow Sports to return their equipment.
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Hiking at Mount Snow
If you’re like me, and you don’t have the need for speed, you can still enjoy a day on the mountain.
There are hiking trails for every fitness level on Mount Snow, and even non-hikers can enjoy an easy walk on the summit trail after catching the Bluebird Express to the top.
Most of the hiking trails at Mount Snow follow wide, open ski trails, so sunblock and sunglasses are a must.
I wanted to spend a good portion of my day at Mount Snow watching and photographing the bikers, so I chose the quickest, but most difficult path to the summit, the Highline Trail.
It was definitely steep, and trekking poles would have been a good idea, but I did okay without them.
I didn’t see another soul on the trail, and it was a little disconcerting to reach the top and find a bustling restaurant and a crowd admiring the view!
I rewarded myself with a cold drink on the deck of the Bullwheel and hiked back down to Somerset Road to try to catch my kiddos on camera.
Hiking at Mount Snow isn’t wilderness hiking, but it’s a great way to work up a sweat while your kids are partaking in risky behaviors.
The monarch butterflies were out in full force.
And I even saw a bit of wildlife.
Visiting Mount Snow in the Summer
The Canyon Express and Bluebird Express lifts run Friday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, all summer long and into the fall foliage season.
Mountain biking at Mount Snow is a great way to get outside with your teens, and the Green Mountains make a beautiful backdrop for all kinds of adventures, whether you’re chasing an adrenaline rush or just want to enjoy the ride.
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